Oshawa Generals giving nothing to Peterborough Petes

Daniel Altshuller earns second straight OHL playoff shutout

Oshawa Generals

Sabrina Byrnes / Metroland

OSHAWA -- Oshawa Generals' Cole Cassels chased after the puck during Game 2 of the OHL Eastern Conference semifinal against the Peterborough Petes, Sunday night at the General Motors Centre. The Generals defeated the Petes 2-0 to take a 2-0 series lead. April 6, 2014

OSHAWA -- The Peterborough Petes need to figure out a way to win in Oshawa if they are going to have any hope of upsetting the Generals in the second round of the OHL playoffs.

And so far, they haven't even found a way to score.

Daniel Altshuller made 22 saves for his second shutout in a row, as the Generals defeated the Petes 2-0 Sunday night before a crowd of 5,820 and took a 2-0 series lead in their Eastern Conference semifinal.

Including a regular-season sweep of the Petes, the Generals have now won six games at the General Motors Centre this season by a combined score of 23-4.

"I don't know what it is," Generals coach D.J. Smith said when asked about the home-ice dominance. "I think obviously the fans, especially in the playoffs being a lot louder, are giving our guys some energy. Certainly we've played better defensive hockey at home, I think every team does, you feel more comfortable."

The Generals used their potent power play to open the scoring Sunday, as Dylan Smoskowitz put home a gorgeous pass from rookie Mitchell Vande Sompel just 2:10 into the game.

Vande Sompel, who was named to the OHL's first all-rookie team this season on defence, played forward in the game and also earned an assist Jacob Busch's goal midway through the opening frame.

Busch streaked down the right side and beat Petes goalie Andrew D'Agostini through the legs.

D'Agostini was excellent from that point on, making 30 saves all told, but the Petes simply couldn't penetrate the Generals' defence for many quality scoring chances in the game.

"We knew it was going to be a hard-fought series," said Petes coach Jody Hull. "They defend really well in their zone. We got some chances as the game went along there. We've just got to stick with it."

The Petes did have an excellent opportunity to get back into the game in the third period, with a full two-minute five-on-three power play followed by three minutes more of five-on-four after Scott Laughton was assessed a five-minute match penalty for a butt end.

Anthony Stefano, the recipient of the butt end, was down for awhile, but did return for some of the ensuing Petes power play.

After the game, neither coach said he saw the play or would comment on a possible suspension to Laughton, arguably the Generals' top player.

"I didn't see what happened," said Smith. "We'll look at it and we'll let the league handle it."

"I haven't seen any of it yet, so I can't comment on it," Hull added.

The Petes have had their own suspension issues to deals with, missing Michael Clarke and Josh Maguire, both of whom are eligible to return for Game 5 of the series if it goes that far.

"Considering we have four regulars out of our lineup, I thought out effort was there and where it needs to be to give ourselves a chance to win," said Hull. "The effort and desire is there, now it's just a matter of executing."

That the Petes failed to execute on the lengthy third-period power play was as much a tribute to the Generals as it was any shortcomings on Peterborough's part.

"It was a gutsy effort, a lot of shot blocks and big saves when we needed them," Smith praised. "The guys dug in, they wanted it, and the sacrificed their bodies for the team."

The Petes have been much better against Oshawa at the Memorial Centre, where the series shifts this week for games Tuesday and Thursday.